With the win, FIU improves to 4-3 on the season while ETSU falls to 3-5.

“Although we walked away from the tournament without a win, our team showed that we have the potential to be very good,” said ETSU head coach Lindsey Devine. “We are young in some positions so as a coach I need to remind myself to be patient.”

The Bucs had a number of solid individual performances as Megan Devine (Kingsport, Tenn.) recorded a team-high 14 kills, while also adding six digs, four blocks and two service aces. It marked her fifth straight match of 10 or more kills. In addition, Devine was named to the all-tournament team for the second straight week. Senior Jamie Stancliff (Advance, N.C.) had a solid afternoon especially on the defensive end as she tied a career-high with 10 blocks. Stancliff also added five kills and two service aces. Kiley Tamblyn (Torrance, Calif.) led the Buccaneer defense with 21 digs, while also contributing three assists and two service aces. Kayla Williams (El Paso, Texas) dished out 24 assists and added six digs, four blocks and three kills.

ETSU out-blocked FIU, 17-14, while also gaining a 7-3 advantage in service aces. However, FIU had a 56-40 advantage in kills, while out-hitting the Bucs .207 to .081. The Golden Panthers also held a 53-38 edge in assists.

Both squads came to play in the first set as the teams battled back and forth to a 22-22 tie after a McKayla Barber (Columbus, Ind.) kill. A second straight Barber kill and a combined block by Stancliff and Krista Hughes (Williamsburg, Va.) put the Buccaneers in set-point position at 24-22. After a FIU kill to keep the set alive, Hughes delivered the set clinching kill that would give the Bucs a 25-23 set win and a 1-0 lead for the match.

The second set saw much of the same, with the teams fighting to a 17-17 tie. FIU would then take the lead on a Buc attack error, and a service ace by freshman Carolyn Fouts made it 19-17. The teams then traded points on two occasions to put the score at 21-19 before a Stancliff kill brought the Bucs to within one at 21-20. Back-to-back kills for FIU gave the Panthers a 23-20 advantage, forcing an ETSU timeout. Out of the break, a Buc attack error put FIU in set-point position but a Williams kill kept the set going before a score by Bjelica gave the Panthers a 25-21 set win, knotting the match score at 1-1.

The third set was evenly played until FIU went on a seven-point rally to take a 19-13 lead. ETSU would then gain a point via a Panther service error, but a Buccaneer service error gave FIU the point back, putting the score at 20-14. The Panthers would then out-score the Bucs, 5-3, to take a 25-17 set victory and a 2-1 match lead.

In the fourth set, a kill by Bjelica gave FIU an 18-12 advantage, forcing a Buccaneer timeout. Out of the break, redshirt junior Renele Forde and freshman Silvia Carli teamed up for a block to make it 19-12, while Carli followed up with a kill to put the score at 20-12. ETSU rattled off four-straight points to get to within four at 20-16, but Forde came through with a kill to up FIU's advantage to 21-16. The teams would then trade points on two occasions before a FIU kill brought up match-point at 24-18. ETSU managed two more points, but a block ended the match as FIU came away with a 25-20 set win and a 3-1 match victory.

ETSU returns to action on Friday, Sept. 9, as the Bucs take on UNC Asheville in the first match of the Comfort Inn and Suites Invitational, hosted by Chattanooga. First serve is set for 11 a.m.